Derby Chosen First Team Academic All-District VIII

Economics Major was 45 of 48 on PATs, Averaged 36.6 Yards per Punt

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior Kyle Derby (PK/P, Oakdale, CA/Oakdale HS) has been chosen First Team Capital One NCAA Division III Academic All-District VIII in football for the 2012 season. The Academic All-District team is determined in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Derby is majoring in Economics at Willamette. He entered the current semester with a 3.673 cumulative grade point average.

As a First Team Academic All-District selection, Derby is now eligible for the Capital One NCAA Division III Academic All-America Team, which will be released on December 4.

This fall, Derby was the Bearcats' primary option on extra points, field goals, and punts. Over the season, he connected on 45 of 48 extra points and made 5 of 9 field goals.

In his first season punting for Willamette, Derby booted 29 punts for a total of 1,062 yards (36.6 avg.). He launched four punts of over 50 yards and placed nine punts inside the 20-yard line. Derby was selected as the Northwest Conference Special Teams Student-Athlete of the Week on September 4.

Derby's strong special teams play was a key factor in helping Willamette finish 8-2 overall, 4-2 in the NWC (3rd place) in Head Coach Glen Fowles' first season in charge. It is the third time the Bearcats have finished with eight or more wins since 2008.

During his career, Derby has made 107 extra points in 113 attempts (94.7%). With one season of eligibility left, he is on pace to shatter Willamette's career records for both extra points made (115) and attempted (127). Both those records were set by former Bearcat Mitchell Rowan '12 between 2008 and 2011.

CoSIDA District VIII includes colleges and universities in the western United States. Athletes nominated for the Capital One Academic All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative GPAs of 3.3 or higher (4.0 scale). Each athlete was at his current college or university for at least one academic year.